Formal register

1. Formal Communication

Socializing//conversation
Telephoning
Official
correspondence
Documents and contracts
Official meetings,
Presentations
Negotiating
Business media

2. Formal Conversation

1. Sharing.
2. Debriefing. This is the history to be shared since
you last saw the interlocutor.
3. Clearing. Clearing, unlike debriefing, generally
focuses on a single event or a couple, not a list of
them. “Is there anything you want to say before we
start our session?” “… before we begin our
meeting?”
4. Discussion and Debate. This is the natural
expression of opinions and views when everyone is
allowed to equally participate in it
5. Teaching.

3. Formal Conversation stages

1.
greeting
2. introduction
3. exchange.
4. summary.
5. closing.

4. Telephone talk moves

Answering the phone
Introducing yourself
Connecting someone.
When you need to put somebody on hold
When you don’t understand the caller
Clarifying what your caller says
Taking a message for someone
Leaving a message for someone
Ending a conversation
Leaving a voice mail
Recording a voice mail message on your machine
Phrases for cell phone calls

5. Official meeting

Greeting/Opening + announcement that the
meeting is starting.
Stating the Purpose: "We're here today to
discuss last quarter's sales figures."
Reviewing Past Business
Introducing the Agenda and Discussion
Finishing the Meeting

6.

Dear Ms Long
I am writing in connection with the above order for
office furniture.
We regret to inform you that we are unable to
deliver the Linton filing cabinets on time. This is as
a result of problems at our supplier’s factory.
With regard to the lamps and desks, we will deliver
the goods before 13 March, as agreed.
With apologies,
Yours sincerely
Mr S Basuki
Manager

7. Function > Form

Function > Form
Stating the purpose:
write (Present Continuous)
The main message of the letter:
Requesting Information, Giving good/bad news, Apologising, Giving reasons
A letter of apology:
apologising: regret + infinitive; apologies (plural)
stating the problem: to be unable to
giving reasons: this is the result
informing of future actions: will deliver
Closing: yours